Weighing batcher



July 16, 1935. c. s. JOHNSON WEIGHING BATCHER Filed March 6, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1935. c. s. JOHNSON WEIGHING BATCHER Filed Marchef, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented July 16, 1935 tiri@ attacca CharlesS. Johnson,

Mlinpaign,

Application March 5, i933, Serial No. 659,369

341 Claims. (Cl. Zlitlmf!) The invention relates generally to weighingdevices and more particularly to such devices adapted for automaticallyWeighing free :dowing material such as concrete aggregates or cementinto 5 batches oi predetermined weight.

In practice bulla material such as concrete aggregate or cement variesgreatly in its ilow characteristics, due in a large measure to the eectof aeration, packing, or arching of the material in the supply bin. Ifarching of the material occurs, the arch may be broken by furtheropening of the valve that controls the dow, and breaking may occur withdifferent degrees of opening. When an arch breaks, a sudden new of largevolume tends to occur. Hence the rate of flow of the material from thesupply bin to the Weigher may vary through a Wide range in successiveWeighing operations, 'and in most instances, during a single Weighingoperation. For example, a supply'bin may contain cement which in oneportion contains arched cement which resists fic-vr, while in anotherportion the cement may be aerated so as to possess substantially the newcharacteristics of Water.

With the above situation fm mind, an important vobject of the inventionis to provide an automatic Weighing patcher which is sensitive to suchvariations in the new characteristics o the inaterial so as to insureaccurate weighing of the batches.

Another object is to provide a weighing 'catcher -wherein the rate ofiioiv of the material errer"z cises a controlling influence upon thecut-cii` valve of the supply bin. v

Another object is to provide such a bateher wherein the cut-oir valve ofthe supply bin is controllo through means sensitive to the rate or'iiovf ci the material as `Well as to the Weight or the material in theWeighing hopper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Weighing batcher havingcut-o means between the bin and the Weighing hopper governed by a pairof control devices sensitive to different rates of flow or" thematerial, together with scaleactuated means operable to render saiddevices successively eiective to permit relatively rapid lling of thehopper except during the iinal portion of the lling operation, duringwhich portion the rate or flow is materially reduced so as DO to preventover-running of the desired Weight.

Another object is to provide a Weighing batcher in which the finalportion of the filling operationl is controlled by means sensitive tothe rate of flow, which means is positioned closely adjacent the cut-olivalve so that the quantity or flowing material which 4has passed thevalve is reduced connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a iront elevational vieW of a Weighing hatcher embodying thefeatures of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view ci a portion of the switchmechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cut-o5 valve.

Fig. e is a Wiring diagram showing the various control circuits.

For purposes of disclosure the preferred forni of the invention has beenillustrated in the drawings and will hereinafter be described in detail,but it is to be understood that this disclosure is not intended as alimitation of the invention to the type of apparatus shown, it beingcontemplated that various changes might be inade by those skilled in theart to adapt the invention other types oi apparatus Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

in the forrn chosen for herein the invention is embodied a weighingcatcher comprising a hopper t5 carried by the lever system of a beamscale so as to be supported beneath the discharge opering i2 of a supplyein The hopper l@ is of the downwardly converging bottoni discharge typehaving a bottoni discharge valve l 1i. A pressure uid actuated pistonand cylinder device l 5 mounted on the hopper acts through a togglemechanism i6 to operate the valve Ul, the piston and cylinder devicebeing controlled by any desired means of a conventional character.

Between the supply bin i3 and the hopper i0 a cut-oli valve il ispositioned to control the iiow of material from the bin to the hopper.The valve il is preferably oi the rotatable plug type having a valvecasing i8 (Fig. 3) providing a horizontally positioned cylindrical valvechamber I9 with vertically alined openings 20 in the top and bottomthereof to provide for the passage of the material through the chamber|9 under the control of a valve member 2| rotatably mounted in thechamber. The valve member 2| is of gen'- erally cylindrical form and isrotatable upon a horizontal axis' to bring its transverse opening 22into and out of registry with the openings in the valve casing. When thevalve member is partially open it will be noted that the upper and loweropenings provided thereby are oiset to prevent a direct iiow from thesupply bin to the scale hopper.

In a hand-operated bin, a skilled operator is aware of thecharacteristics and tendencies of the materials handled. Thus, in thecase of sand or cement, the operator knows that the material tends toarch over the opening from the bin and that such an arch must be brokenby further opening of the cut-olf valve. But, he is also well aware ofthe fact that a sudden rush of material occurs with the breaking of thearch, hence when an arch breaks when the scale hopper is nearly filled,he instantly closes or partly closes the valve, in order to prevent anover-weight of material entering therein. Such control is accurate andbecomes second nature to a skilled operator.

'I'he present apparatus simulates such hand control and automaticallyattains the laccuracies thereof. Thus in the present apparatus, thecutoff valve 2| opens slowly to the extent necessary to break any archin the material. With the sudden rush of material incident to suchbreaking of an arch, the cut-oi valve is instantly closed. During thenal portion of the filling operation, the control is rendered nelysensitive to the flow immediately below the valve for the double purposeof preventing the weighing means from being affected by the impact of alarge body of falling material and also to reduce to a minimum theamount of material which has passed the valve but has not yet fallen tothe level of the owsensitive means.

On a stationary bracket 23 xed to the valve casing I8, a pressure uidactuated piston and cylinder device 24 is mounted, the cylinder 24athereof being pivoted to the bracket 23 while the piston 24b isconnected through a piston rod 25 having a bail shaped end 26 pivoted toactuating arms 21 (only one shown) of the valve member 2|. The arms 21are secured on the projecting end of stubshafts 28 which are xed to thevalve member. Thusthe actuating device 24 serves to open and close thecut-olf valve |1.

The valve |1 is preferably opened slowly and is closed rapidly, so thatthe moment a sudden rush of material occurs, ason the breaking of anarch,'it may be stopped. To this end pressure uid from a suitable source(not shown) is supplied constantly to the remote end of the cylinder 24ethrough a pipe 29 so as to tend to close the valve |1. The uid from thesource is preferably under a relatively high pressure and is conductedby a supply pipe 3|) to a reducing valve 3|, and thence through an airreceiver or tank 32 which is connected to the pipe 29. To the other endof the cylinder 24a a pipe 33 is connected, a. threeway valve 34 beinginterposed in saidpipe 33 between the cylinder 24 and the point at whichthe pipe 33 is connected to the high pressure supply pipe 30. The valve34 provides at 35 for the exhaust of pressure fluid from the pipe 33when the valve 34 is closed.

the cut-oil valve |1, the pressure fluid supply pipes 29 and 33 havecheck or bleeder valves 35 and 31 therein, the check valve 31 in thepipe 33 being so disposed as to retard the iow of pressure fluid to thecylinder 24 but permit rapid exhaust, while the check valve 36 retardstheiow of the exhaust through pipe 29 and permits rapid return ofpressure uid to the cylinder 24.

lIn accordance with the present invention the cut-off valve mechanismabove described is governed through the cooperative controlling actionof the weighing scale and means which is sensitive to the rate of ow ofthe material. If desired, the control may be arranged, as in the formherein illustrated, so as to provide for relatively rapid lling Vof thehopper during the major portion of the operation, followed by relativelyslow feeding of the material until the desired weight is reached so thatan excess of material in the scale hopper will be avoided.

To this end the scale through movement of its beam Ila, is arranged'togovern the pressure uid control valve 34, preferably by electricalmeans. Thus the valve 34 is equipped with an electromagnetic actuator 39arranged to open the valve 34 when its magnet 39 is energized. Incircuit with the magnet 39a are a pair of switches 40 and 4| adapted foractuation by the scale beam He. The switches 40 and 4| are of theenclosed mercury type and are arranged to be opened successively in theupward movement of the scale beam IIB. For this purpose the switches aremounted at different angles on a tiltable carrier 42 which in turn ispivoted at its midpoint on a frame member 43 above the scale beam. y

A link 44 connecting the scale beam la with the carrier 42 serves toshift the carrier in accordance with the movement of the scale beam.'Ihe switch 40 is so mounted that it is opened when the beam is centeredbetween its stops 45, that is, when the desired weight. of material` hasbeen fed to the hopper, and.- it is desirable that the switch 4| beopened when av slightly less weight has been reached. 'I'he point atwhich the switch 4| opens may be varied by means of an adjustablecounter-weight 46 carried by a pivoted beam 41 mounted on the frame 43.One end 41 of the beam 41 is positioned beneath the carrier 42 and tendsto move downwardly toward a stop 48, so as to act through a link 49 topivot the carrier 42 so as to tend to raise the scale beam ll. The link49 is so formed that it provides for lost motion between the link andthe end 41a after the beam 41 has come to rest upon the adjustableabutment 48, whereby to permit free movement of the scale beam ||a andthe associated switch carrier 42.

To act in conjunction with the weight-actuated switches 40 and 4| tocontrol the cut-olf valve |1, two devices 50 and 5| sensitive to therate of ow of material are mounted in the valve casing I8 below thevalve member 2|. The owsensitive devices 50 and 5| are preferablysimilar in character, differing principally in size and in proximity tothe cut-off valve 2|. Thus the device 50 constitutes a minormaterial-flow detector positioned closely adjacent the valve 2| andcomprises an impact plate 52 fixed at one edge to a rock shaft 53journaled horizontally in the valve casing I8 beneath and along one edgeof the lower opening 20 preferably on the side where the first openingoccurs when the valve member is rotated from its closed position. An arm54, having an adjustable counter-weight 55 thereon projects laterallyfrom one end of the shaft 53 whereby to urge the impact plate 52 to aposition wherein it projects transversely across the valve casing i8 ina downward direction and into path of the material moving through thecasing at the point where the material passes from the valve 2 l.

The now-sensitive device 5i is constructed to provide a major owdetector and comprises a slightly larger impact plate 56 carried by arock shaft 5l similarly journaled in the casing i8 at the opposite sideof the lower opening 2G. On an arm 58 projecting laterally from theshaft 5l a nut 59 is adjustably threaded to carry a detachable,relatively heavy countenweight Sil. Similar transverse bolts 6I areprovided on the two arms Eil and 58 to engage the valve casing I8 so asto limit movement of the impact plates by their respectivecounter-weights to the normal angular positions shown in full lines inEg. 3. When in its normal angular position, the impact plate 5 directsthe now of material toward the minor now detecting plate 52. This actionis preferably facilitated byside anges e (only one shown) on the edgesof the plate 5S.

The controlling action of the now-sensitive devices 5i? and 5i upon thecut-od valve ll is effected through electrical interconnection with thesolenoid-operated air valve 34. For this purpose the rock shafts 53 and5'! carry enclosed mercury type switches 62 and E3, respectively,mounted on the ends of the shafts as shown in Fig. l so as to be closedwhen the impact plates extend across the Valve casing. Thus the switches62 and 63 are opened when the rate of iiow of the material causessuicient force to he exerted on the impact plates to swing them to theretracted positions shown in dottedL outline in Fig. 3.

As will be evident in Fig. 4, two parallel conductors 55 and 5t connectone side 6l or" an electrical source with the electromagnet 35e, whilethe other side oi the electrical source is connected to the magnet by aconductor 68. In the conductor 35, the two switches #il and 52 areinterposed in series, while the switches il and 53 are similarlyinterposed in the parallel conductor In the conductor BB, a, manualswitch 5S is provided for disabling the device, together with mercuryswitch lll. The switch l@ is mounted on an element of the toggle deviceiE so as to be open when the hopper valve l. is open.

When the hopper valve hi is closed and the hopper l@ is empty, thecircuit to the electromagnet 39a is closed by both ci the parallel con-.ductors te and 55, thus causing the air valve St to be opened toinitiate slow opening movement of the cut-oir valve il. The resultingnew oi material strikes the dow-sensitive devices 5d and 5l and sincethe device 553 has a relatively light counter-weight, the impact plateSZ thereof is shifted so as to open its switch 62. The electromagnet3de, however, remains energized and the gradual opening movement ci thevalve il continues until the flow of material is sufcient to actuate theheavily counter-weighted impact plate 5l so as to open the second switch5S. When this occurs, both or" the circuits 65 and 6@ are broken and themagnet 39a is deenergized so that the cut-oli valve ll closes instantly.

As a result oi the closing ci the cut-oli` valve ll, the flow-sensitivedevices 55 and 5l return to their normal positions so as to close theirswitches S2 and 63 and initiate another opening movement of the valveil. When the weight oi the material in the hopper i il is sucient toraise the scale beam He, the carrier 52 is rocked so as to open theswitch di. Hence the circuit S6 to the switch S3 of the majorflow-control device 5l is broken and subsequent operation of themechanism is controlled by the minor now control device ll. it followstherefore that closing movement of the cut-on valve l? is then adectedby the ilow at a point closely adjacent to the valve and is caused by arelatively small now or" material, the impact of which does notmaterially aiect the accuracy of the scales, so that the nal weight isapproached gradually without an error due to impactl until movement ofthe carrier 42 by the scale beam lle causes opening of the seol ondswitch 4B, thereby breaking both circuits to the magnet 39e.

The batch may then be discharged from the hopper i9 by actuation of thetoggle S6, and in such opening the switch "lil is also opened so as toprevent closing of the various control circuits when the scale beam iledrops. Upon closure of the hopper lll, the switch 'ill is again closeand the next filling operation is initiated as above described.

From the foregoing it will be evident that present invention providesfor feeding of the material to the hopper at different rates, and thatthis result is obtained through the use of a single valve. Due to thefact that the cut-ori valve opens slowly under the control of thenow-sensitive device, the device is substantially unailected by packingor" the material above the cut-off valve. The mechanism, however, adaptsitself to varying flow characteristics of the material and measurespacked or loose material with equal facility.

In the prior art, the operation of the cut-ofi valve has been dependentupon the weight of the material in the scale-hopper, the stream ofmaterial between the valve and the hopper being added to the material inthe hopper after the valve closes. in my apparatus, the valve iscontrolled by devices located close to the valve so as to reduce to anegligible minimum the length or the stream that is added to the hopper'after the valve closes; and the cross-sectional size of the stream isreduced tc the minimum oy the use ci the sensitive ieeler .l claim as myinvention:

l. The combination of a scale, a hopper con nected to the scale, acut-oh valve to control the ow of material to the hopper, two valvecontrolling feelers which are sensitive to the stream of materialflowing from the valve to the hopper, one ieeler being more sensitivethan the other, and .means controlled by the scale upon near approach toa predetermined weight for depriving the less-sensitive :teeier cicontrol of the valve.

2. The combination of a cut-ori valve, a scale hopper arranged toreceive material flowing through the valve, and two ieelers or dineringsensitivity located close to the valve and sensitive to the stream ofmaterial iiowing from the valve to the hopper, for controlling thevalve.

3. A device oi' the character described comprising a bin, a hopperadapted to be filled from said bin, an intermediate cut-ofi valve,weightsensitive means operable to close said valve when a predeterminedquantity of material has been fed into said hopper, and meansautomatically operable to close said valve when the rate of flow or"material to said hopper exceeds a predetermined maximum.

4. A device of the character described compricing a hopper, a supply bini rom which said lll hopper may be lled, a cut-oil valve interposedtherebetween, andfmeans operable by a ow of material in excess of apredetermined maximum to effect complete closure of said valve andoperable immediately thereafter to initiate opening of the valve saidmeans including means displaceable against the force of gravity by a owof material through the valve, such closure being more rapid than theopening.

5. A weighing batcher having a weighing scale, a hopper operativelyconnected to said scale, a supply bin from which said hopper may befilled, a cut-oil valve between said bin and said hopper, a pair ofhow-sensitive devices between said valve and said hopper, said devicesbeing responsive to two diierent rates of material ow, and meansoperable by said scale to render said devices successively effectiveupon said valve to close the valve.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hopper, materialsupply means for said hopper including a control valve, a valveactuator, a shiftable control element between said valve and said hopperin the path of the material passing to said hopper so as to be actuatedfrom its lnormal position by a' predetermined flow of material, andmeans operatively connecting said element to said actuator completely toclose the valve immediately when said element is so actuated and to eectopening of the valve when said element has returned to its normalposition such closing being more rapid than the opening.

7. A weighing batcher having a weighing scale, a hopper operativelyconnected to said scale,.a supply bin from which said hopper may belled, a cut-off valve between said bin and said hopper, a pair offlow-sensitive devices sensitive to diierent rates of ow of materialbetween said valve and said hopper, switches actuated by said devices,an electro-magnetically controlled valve actuator, a pair of conductorsforming parallel circuits to said actuator, one vof said switches beinginterposed in each of said conductors, and a second pair of switchesconnected one in each of said conductors, and means operable by saidscale to open said second pair of switches successively in a givenactuation of said scale.

8. A vdevice of the character disclosed comprising a cut-oil valve forcontrolling material ow, actuating means operable to effect gradualopening and rapid closing of said valve, i. e., the closing is rapid incomparison to the opening, and means sensitive to the rate. of flow ofthe material operable to govern said actuating means.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a valvehaving a valve casing with a passage therethrough, a valve member insaid casing for controlling said passage, a pair of shafts rotatablymounted in said casing below said valve member and on opposite sides ofsaid passage, a pair of plates, said shafts each having one of saidplates secured at one edge to the shaft, means urging said shafts topositions wherein said plates converge downwardly toward each other andacross said passage, and-means actuated by outward swinging movement ofsaid plates to govern the position of said valve member.

l0. In a device of the character described, the combination of a valvehaving a valve casing with a passage therethrough, a valve member insaid casing for controlling said passage, a pair of pivoted elements insaid casing below the valve and on opposite sides of said passage andoiering different degrees of resistance to the ilow of material, andmeans actuated byl pivotal movement of said elements to govern theposition of said valve member.

l1. A device of the character described comprising a valve casing havinga passage therethrough, a valve member in said casing controlling saidpassage, aA pair of plates, means pivoting one of said plates adjacentone of its edges and on a horizontal axis adjacent one side of saidpassage, means similarly pivoting the other of said plates adjacenttheopposite side of said passage, means urging said plates with differentdegrees of force to move the free edges thereof toward the center ofsaid passage and into the path of the material moving therethrough, andmeans governed by the positions of said plates for controlling theoperation of said valve.

12. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-offvalve to control the now of material to the scale hopper, a cylinder, apiston in the cylinder connected to the cut-oil valve, means forconstantly applying fluid pressure to the valve-closing side of thepiston, a passage for supplying fluid pressure to the valveopening sideof the piston, a valve in said passage to supply fluid at higherpressure than that applied to the valve-closing side of .the piston andto exhaust fluid from the valve-opening Aside of the piston, two feelersin the path of material flowing through the cut-oil valve to the scalehopper, one of said feelers being more sensitive than the other, twoelectric switches each operated by one of said feelers, an electriccircuit for operating said uid pressure valve, said switches beingincluded in parallel branches of said circuit, a scale beam operated bythe scale hopper, a third switch included in one of said branches of thecircuit, a fourth switch included in the other branch of said circuit,said third and fourth switches being operable by the scale beam, saidthird and fourth switches being arranged to be operated one ahead of theother as the beam approaches the poised position, the vswitch that isoperated rst being in the branch of the circuit containing the switchassociated .with the less sensitive feeler.

13. A weighing .batcher having, in combination; a scale hopper, a cut-oivalve to control the flow of material to the scale hopper, a cylinder, apiston in the cylinder connected to the cut-01T valve, means forconstantly applying fluid pressure to the valve-closing side of thepiston, a passage for supplying fluid pressure to the valve-opening sideof the piston, a valve in said passage to supply uid at higher pressurethan that applied to the valve-closing side of the piston and to exhaustfluid from the valve-opening side of the piston, two feelers in the pathof material iiowing through the cut-off valve to the scale hopper, oneof said feelers being more sensitive than the other, an .electriccircuit for operating said iiuid pressure valve, means operated by saidfeelers to control the iiow of current in the circuit when both feelersyield to the stream of material, a scale beam operated by the scalehopper, and means operable by the scale beam as the beam reaches thepoised position to control the flow of current in the circuit.

14. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-offvalve to control the iiow of material tothe scale hopper, a cylinder, apiston in the cylinder connected to the cut-o" valve, means forconstantly applying iiuid pressure to the valve-closingside of thepiston,

accesos a passage for supplying uid pressure to the valve-opening sideof the piston, a valve in said passage to supply fluid at higherpressure than that applied to the valve-closing side of the piston andto exhaust uid from the valve-opening side of the piston, two feelers inthe path of material flowing through the cut-o valve to the scalehopper, one of said feelers being more sensitive than the other, twonormally closed electric switches each operated by one of said feelers,and an electric circuit for operating said iluid pressure valve, saidswitches being included in the parallel branches of said circuit, ascale beam operated by the scale hopper, and means operated by the scalebeam for breaking said circuit as the beam reaches the poised position.l

l5. A Weighing batcher having, in combination,

a scale hopper, a cut-oir valve to control the now of material to thescale hopper, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder connected to thecut-off valve,

means for constantly applying iluid pressure to the valve-closing sideof the piston, a passage for supplying uid pressure to the valve-openingside of the piston, a valve in said passage to supply i'luid at higherpressure than that applied to the valve-closing side of the piston andto exhaust fluid from the valve-opening side of the piston,

and two means to control said iluid pressure valve, one of said meansbeing sensitive to the pressure of the stream of material, and the otherbeing sensitive to the weight of the material in the hopper.

16. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-offvalve to control the flow of material to the scale hopper, a cylinder, apiston in the cylinder connected to the cut-ofi valve, means forconstantly applying uid pressure to the valve-closing side of thepiston, a passage for supplying uid pressure to the valve-opening sideci the piston, a valve in said passage to supply fluid at higherpressure than that applied to the valve-closing side of the piston andto exhaust fluid from the valve-opening side of the piston, two feelersin the path of material flowing 45 through the cut-oli valve to thescale hopper, one of said feelers being more sensitive than the other,an electric circuit for operating said fluid pressure valve, and meansoperated by said feelers to control the ow of current in the circuit 50when both ieelers yield to the stream of material. 17. A weighingbatcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-oir valve tocontrol the new of material to the scale hopper, a cylinder, a piston inthe cylinder connected to the cut-on valve, 55 means for constantlyapplying fluid pressure to the valve-closing side of the piston, apassage for supplying fluid pressure to the valve-opening side of thepiston, a valve in said passage to supply iluid at higher pressure thanthat applied to the valve-closing side of the piston and to eX- haustfluid from the valve-opening side of the piston, two feelers in the pathof material .flowing through the cut-off valve to the scale hopper, oneof said feelers being more sensitive than the 65 other, two electricswitches each operated by one of said feelers, and an electric circuitor operating said uid pressure valve, said switches being included inparallel branches of said circuit. 18. A weighing batcher having, incombination, a scale hopper, a cut-off valve to control the ow ofmaterial to the scale hopper, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinderconnected to the cut-ofi? valve, to open the valve to various points andto close the valve from various points at a speed 75 greater than thevalve-opening speed, means for constantly applying uid pressure to thevalveclosing side of the piston, a passage for supplying fluid pressureto the valve-opening side of the piston, and a valve in said passage tosupply uid at higher pressure than that applied to the valve closingside of the piston and to exhaust fluid from the valve-opening side ofthe piston.

19; A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-oirvalve to control the ow of material to the scale hopper, means to openand close said valve, means tending to operate the opening and closingmeans to effect closure of the valve, other means to operate the openingand closing means to eiect opening of the valve, an electric circuit forenergizing said other means, two l feelers in the path of materialflowing through the cut-oil valve to the scale hopper, one of saidfeelers being more sensitive than the other, two electric switches eachoperated by one of said feelers, said switches being included inparallel branches or" said circuit, a scale beam operated by the scalehopper, and means operated by the scale beam for breaking said circuitas the beam reaches the poised position.

20. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-offvalve to control the iiow of material to the scale hopper, means to openand close said valve, means tending to operate the opening and closingmeans to effect closure of the valve, other means to ope te the openingand closing means to eiect open ng of the valve, an

electric circuit for energizing said other means,

two :feelers in the path of material flowing through the cut-off valveto the scale hopper, one of said feelers being more sensitive than theother, and two electric switches each operated by one of said feelers,said switches being included in parallel branches of said circuit.

21. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a s cale hopper, acut-01T valve to control the flow of material to the scale hoppen'meansto open and close said. valve, an electric circuit controlling saidmeans, two feelers 'in the path of material owing through the cut-offvalve to the scale hopper, one of said feelers being more-sensitive thanthe other, two electric switches each operated by one of said feelers,said switches being included in parallel branches of said circuit, ascale beam operated by the scale hopper, and means operated by thescalebeam for breaking said circuit as the beam reaches the poised position.

22. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper, a cut-offvalve to control the ow of material to the scale hopper, said valvetending to close completely, two feelers in the path of material owingthrough the cut-ofi valve to the scale hopper, one of said feelers beingmore sensitive than the other, and means interposed between the ieelersand the valve and arranged to allow the valve to close when both feelersyield to the pressure of the stream of material and to open the valvewhen the less sensitive feeler does not yield to the stream of material.

23. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper to containa weighed batch, a cuto valve to control the ilow of material to thehopper electrically controlled mechanism for opening and closing saidvalve, an electrical control circuit therefor, means sensitive to thepressure or" the stream of material flowing into the hopper for openingand closing the control circuit of said mechanism, a shunt circuitaround said means for rendering said means ineffective in said controlcircuit during the major portion of the weighing oi the batch, meanssensitive to the weight of material in the hopper for opening said shuntcircuit to render said pressure-sensitive means effective during the nalstages of weighmg.

24. In a weighing batcher, the combination of a scale hopper to containa weighed batch, a single cut-off valve to control the ow a material tothe hopper, mechanism for operating said valve, an electrical circuitfor controlling the operation of said mechanism and having two parallelbranches, means sensitive to the weight of material in the hopper foropening one of said branches when the hopper contains a partial batch,means sensitive to the flow of material during the iinal stages forcontrolling the other of said branches, and meanssensitive to the weightof material for opening said other branch when the weighing of a batchhas been completed.

25. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper to containa weighed batch, a single cut-off valve to control the flow of materialto the hopper, mechanism for Iclosing said valve with a quick action andfor opening said valve with a. slow action, means sensitive to thepressure of the stream of material owing into the hopper for controllingthe operation of said mechanism, means for rendering saidpressuresensitive means ineffective during the rst part of the weighingof the batch, and means sensitive to the weight of the material in thehopper for rendering the: last-mentioned means ineffective during theiinal stages of iilling.

26. A Weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper to containa weighed batch, a

cut-oi valve to control the flow of material tol the hopper, mechanismfor operating said valve,

means sensitive to the weight of material in the hopper for controllingsaid mechanism during the major portion of the weighing of the batch,means sensitive to the ilow of material into the hopper for controllingthe operation of said mechanism during the nal stages of the Weighing ofthe batch, and means sensitive to the weight of material in the hopperfor causing said mechanism to close the valve when the weighing of thebatch has been completed.

27. A weighing batcher having, in combination, a scale hopper to containa weighed batch, a cutoff valveA to control the iiow of material to thehopper, mechanism for operating vsaid valve, means sensitive to the iiowof material to said hopperfor controlling said mechanism during the`iinal stages of the weighing of the batch, and means sensitive to theweight of material in the hopper for causing said mechanism to close thevalve when the weighing of the batch has been completed.

28. A weighing batcher comprising, in combination, a scale hopper tocontain a weighed batch, a cut-off valve to control the iiow of materialto the hopper, mechanism for operating said valve, means sensitive tothe ilow of material .to said hopper for causing said mec anism to closewhen the ilow exceeds a predeter ed rate during the iinal stages of theWeighing of the batch, and means sensitive to the weight of material inthe hopper for causing said mechanism to close the valve when theweighing of the batch has been completed, said flow-sensitive meansbeing positioned closely adjacent said cut-off ,valve whereby thefallingmaterial between' said valve and said flow-sensitive means at thetime of closure of said valve is reduced to a minimum to preventoveri-llling of the hopper.

29. A Weighing batcher comprising, in combination, a scale hopper tocontain a weighed batch, a cut-oi valve to control the ow of material tosaid hopper, mechanism for operating said valve, means sensitive to theweight of material in the hopper for causing said mechanism to close thevalv when the weighing of the batch has been com leted, and means toprevent the impact of the stream of material into the hopper frommaterially affecting the operation of said weightsensitive meanscomprising a feeler positioned in the path of said stream of materialand movable in accordance with the rate of ow thereof, and meansconnecting said feeler with said mechanism and arranged to cause saidmechanism to close said valve when the ow exceeds a predetermined rate.

30. A weighing batcher having in combination, a scale hopper to containa weighed batch, a

cut-oi valve to control the iiow of material to the hopper, mechanismfor opening and closing said valve, said mechanism being adapted to openand close the valve more than once during the weighing of the batch,means sensitive to the pressure of the stream of material issuing fromthe valve for controlling said mechanismiduring the nal stages of theweighing of the batch, and means sensitive to the weight of the batchfor causing said mechanism to close the valve when the hopper containsthe desired weight of material. 1

3l. In a weighing batcher, in combination, a batch hopper, weighingmeans connected therewith operable by the hopper to measure apredetermined quantity of materials in the hopper, a discharge for thehopper, a materials supply means, a Vvalve between the supply means andthe hopper to control passing of the materials to the hopper, mechanismoperable by the hopper under the weight of materials supplied thereto,to cause inal closing of the valve when the materials of the saidpredetermined quantity are received by the hopper, and instrumentalitiesaffected by the ilowing materials at the valve to intermittently movethe valve toward closed and opened positions, before its nal closing, tothereby control the speed of iilling of the hopper.

32. Ina weighing batcher, in combination, a batch hopper, weighing meansconnected therewith operable by the hopper to measure a predeterminedquantity of materials in the hopper, a discharge for the hopper, amaterials supply means, a valve between the supply means and thehopperto control passing of the materials to the hopper, mechanismoperable by the hopper under the weight of materials supplied thereto,to cause flnal closing of the valve when the materials of the saidpredetermined quantity are received by the hopper, instrumentalities tomove the valve with opening and closing action for feeding the materialsto the hopper before nal closing of the valve, and mechanism for causingrapidity of the closing movement and relative slowness of the openingmovement.

33. In a Weighing batcher, a batch hopper, hopper scales for weighingthe hopper and materials received therein to be measured thereby, adischarge for the hopper, a supply source for materials to be fed to thehopper, a valve con.. trolling ow of materials from the said source tothe hopper, mechanism rendered operable by the hopper when a certainquantity of materials has been received therein to reduce the ow of thematerials controlled by the valve, mechanism rendered operable by thehopper as an additional amount of materials is received therein towholly discontinue ow of the materials to the hopper by closing thevalve nally, and devices controlled by the amount of materials movingthrough said valve to the hopper to cause quick closing of the valveupon predetermined increase of the amount of ow, and slow opening of thevalve to cut down saidincreased amount of ow, before the nal closing ofthe valve.

34. In a weighing batcher, in combination, a weighing batch hopper, amaterials supply source, a valve controlling the passage of materialsfrom the source to the hopper, instrumentalities to act on the valve tocause it to intermittently open and close by varying degrees of movementto vary the amount of materials passing to the hopper during a llingcycle of action of the latter, and mechanism for finally closing thevalve when the hopper is full of a predetermined amount of materials.

CHARLES S. JOHNSON.

